This presentation looks at the cost of collecting the income tax. The IRS overhead itself represents the direct cost to the government in generating this revenue. Beside that there is the burden put on the tax payer in preparing his return, in the case of an audit there may be the cost of representation before a tax court. You also become aware of the vast amount of human resources wasted on this activity for the revenue generated.
An injudicious tax offers a great temptation to smuggling. But the penalties of smuggling must rise in proportion to the temptation. The law, contrary to all the ordinary principles of justice, first creates the temptation, and then punishes those who yield to it…
— Adam Smith
Book V of Adam Smith’s classic is entitled “Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth,” includes the above as well as many thoughtful passages about what we nowadays call public finance. Our Political Economy Book Club will discuss this final part of Wealth of Nations on Wednesday, November 12. You can download or read the book on line from several sources, borrow it from many public libraries, or purchase a copy inexpensively.
For further information or to let us know you’re coming, email PEBC coordinator Bob Matter or call 312 450 2906.
We’ll gather in a rustic Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP] to commemorate Henry George’s 174th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but that’s inconvenient for most working folks). This year, we’re also celebrating a new team supporting School operations. In honor of which, and thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS or interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet the new team, and share your ideas.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive argument about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 4 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.
[Please note: There is no need to stay the full 3½ hours of this event. Come when you’d like and leave when you wish. ]
How much stuff do you think you “own,” but really only have a limited license to use in specific ways? You may be surprised to learn who is restricting your freedom to innovate and share information. As software-driven products become more common, how can you be sure that your possessions aren’t working against you? Is that the price we have to pay to live in an advanced economy? It need not be.
Find out how software freedom fits into the “liberty means justice” political economy that we teach, why and how we use open source software wherever possible (and it almost always is). Discussion and videos presented in cooperation with the Free Software Foundation.
Meanwhile, to learn more about DRM and why it might be a bad thing, visit Defective by Design.
We’ll gather in a rustic south Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP] to commemorate Henry George’s 177th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but that’s inconvenient for most working folks). This year, we’re also celebrating, we hope, the School’s new location (yet to be determined at this writing).
Thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS of interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet some of the new students and graduates, as well as the volunteer staff.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive discussion about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 2 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.
We’ll gather in a rundown south Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP; be assured it is half a mile to publc transportation.] to commemorate Henry George’s 178th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but by tradition we use Labor Day). This year, we’re also celebrating our transition to a virtual school using multiple locations, no longer paying monthly rent to a landlord.
Thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS of interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet some of the new students and graduates, as well as the volunteer staff.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive discussion about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 1 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.
Adam Schuster will present “Diagnosing Illinois’ Fiscal Sickness and Prescribing a Cure” to the Henry George School. He is working on a 5-year fiscal plan to save the state and pay off its debt.
Adam is budget and tax research director at Illinois Policy Institute. Prior to joining the Institute, he worked in the Illinois Department of Labor to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and on an initiative to tie state spending to measurable outcomes.
Registration is required for this event. Those attending will be required to pick up a badge from building security to come upstairs. Please tell us you’re coming by sending email to info@hgchicago.org or calling 312 362-9302.
Join us in celebrating Income Tax Appreciation Day. This page will be updated with specifics of our celebration as we figure out how best to do it.